Ductwork Tape Application Tool

ABSTRACT

The invention herein disclosed is a foil duct tape applicator tool and method of applying foil duct tape to seam where two duct segments join. The tape applicator tool is comprised of an elongated bar having on one end a head whereby the head has a flexible plate attached to its rear portion such that a slot is formed in between the flexible plate and the elongated bar. The slot is purposed for receiving foil duct tape whereby an adhesive side of the tape faces the flexible plate and once the tape is inserted into the slot, a user presses downward on the flexible tape to engage the tape whereby the tape becomes temporarily adhere to the flexible plate and a user can then extend the tool via the elongated bar into a narrow opening to properly apply the tape to the air duct seam.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.62/839,334 filed on Apr. 26, 2019.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

None

SEQUENCE LISTING

None

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a tool and method for applying foiltape on seams of adjoining duct work in heating ventilation airconditioning (hereinafter “HVAC) systems whereby the foil tape can beapplied with relative ease in cramped and tight spaces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many HVAC systems rely on ductwork to deliver cool or warm air tovarious exit ports or vents throughout a home or building structure froma central HVAC unit. The duct work is comprised of segments ofrectangular ductwork that fit within each other to create a uniform ductof a desired length. Individual segments have a male end and a femaleend and are connected male to female or female to male on the segmentends. To provide the proper seal, foil duct tape is applied to provide avirtually airtight seal and to prevent against the leakage of cool orhot air into an attic space or crawl space. Often times, depending onconstruction characteristics unique to a building or home, ductwork mustbe situated in very tight spaces. It often takes more than one person toinstall the foil duct tape to duct segments because the ductwork is invery close position to either other ductwork, the furnace or an airhandler or other items such as rafters and walls that are located in anattic space or crawl space. Application of the foil duct tape isperformed by having one person take a tag end of foil duct tape andadvancing it to another person around the duct work. What is needed inthe art is a tool and method that would allow a single person toproperly seal duct segments with foil duct tape without the need formore than one technician. As shown below, there has been invented anddeveloped a tool and method for proper application of foil duct tape toduct segments that can be completed with a single person.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention herein disclosed is a foil duct tape applicator tool andmethod of applying foil duct tape to seam where two duct segments join.The tape applicator tool is comprised of an elongated bar having on oneend a head whereby the head has a flexible plate attached to its rearportion such that a slot is formed in between the flexible plate and theelongated bar. The slot is purposed for receiving foil duct tape wherebyan adhesive side of the tape faces the flexible plate and once the tapeis inserted into the slot, a user presses downward on the flexible plateto engage the tape whereby the tape becomes temporarily adhered to theflexible plate and a user can then extend the tool via the elongated barinto a narrow opening to properly apply the tape to the air duct seam.The head also has an applicator blade that is used to slide along thetape to press the tape into smooth and flush position on the air ductseam. The tape applicator tool also has a handle used for advancing tapeinto position and also doubles as a tape smoother for air duct seamsthat are perpendicular due to the perpendicular junction of two air ductsegments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tape applicator tool.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the head of the tape applicator tool.

FIG. 3 is a side plan view of the head of the tape applicator tool.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the handle of the tape applicator tool.

FIG. 5 is an alternate perspective view of the handle of the tapeapplicator tool.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the handle.

FIG. 7. is rear side elevation of the handle.

FIG. 8 is a side plan view of the handle of the tape applicator tool.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the tape applicator tool in use applyingtape to an air duct seam.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the tape applicator tool uniformlysmoothing the tape onto air duct seam.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the proper loading of tape inpreparation for installation onto a perpendicular junction of two airduct segments.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the tape applicator tool applying tapeto a perpendicular air duct seam.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the handle of the tape applicator toolseating tape in at a junction at a perpendicular air duct stream.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the head.

FIG. 15 is a side elevation of an alternate embodiment of the head.

It should be understood that the present drawings are not necessarily toscale and that the embodiments disclosed herein are sometimesillustrated by fragmentary views. In certain instances, details whichare not necessary for an understanding of the present invention or whichrender other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. Itshould also be understood that the invention is not necessarily limitedto the particular embodiments illustrated herein. Like numbers utilizedthough-out the various figures designate like or similar parts orstructure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIG. 1-3 there is shown the tape applicator tool 8having an elongated bar 10 having a head 12 joined onto one end of theelongated bar 10. The head 12 has a flexible plate 14 that extends offthe rear portion of the head 12 and a slot 16 that is formed between theflexible plate 14 and the elongated bar 10. In one embodiment, there isa distance of 1/16^(th) of an inch between the elongated bar 10 and theflexible plate 14. The slot 16 is purposed for receiving the end of apiece of foil duct tape whereby the tape's adhesive side is facingupwards to the flexible plate 14 such that when a piece of tape isinserted a user will press down on the flexible plate to temporarilyengage the tape 17. The tool 8 via the elongated bar 10 and theattachment of the tape 17 to the flexible plate 14 gives the tape therigidity it needs to span a distance that a user would not normally beable to insert their hand and arm into. This is very typical in many airconditioning units where the interior air handler unit is located invery tight proximity to an air duct return. The tool is also very usefulin tight attic and crawl space scenarios often found in homes andbuildings. The tool in one embodiment would be 36 inches long, howeverit could be in varying lengths or it could be adjustable such thatdepending on the size of the ductwork a user could adjust the elongatedbar 10 to a desired length. Other embodiments of the tool 8 would have a24-25 inch long elongated bar 10 or a 12-14 inch long elongated bar 10.The elongated bar 10 could made out of any rigid material such as metal,plastic, wood, carbon fiber and other lightweight rigid materials. Inone embodiment, the tool is 2 inches wide which allows it to adequatelyaccept common foil duct tape widths of 2 inches, 2.5 inches and 3inches. In use, a user would unroll a desired length of foil duct tapesuitable to seal the seam of two adjoining pieces of ductwork. The userwould insert one end a portion of said foil duct tape into the slot 16located between the elongated bar 10 and the head's flexible plate 14such that the adhesive side is oriented towards the flexible plate 14and placing the tape along the elongated bar and in the elongated bar'sfootprint. The user would press the flexible plate 14 downwards so thatit comes into contact with the adhesive side of the foil duct tape suchthat the tape is temporarily adhered to the flexible plate 14. A userwould then extend the tape applicator tool into a tight space adjacentthe seam of two segments of duct work such that the head is in thevicinity of the end of a seam of two adjoining pieces of ductwork andwould press the exposed adhesive surface of the foil duct tape near thehead onto the ductwork seam from one end to the other. The user wouldthen orient an applicator blade 18 located on the end of the head 12against the applied foil duct tape and slide the applicator blade 18along the entire length of the section of foil duct tape such that thefoil duct tape is uniformly adhered on the seam of said ductworksegments.

As described above, located on the head is an applicator blade 18 thatis generally in a 45 degree orientation to the head. The applicatorblade 18 is purposed to slide along a piece of tape 17 that has beenplaced on air duct seam to flatten and smooth the tape onto the air ductseam for an airtight seal. In one embodiment the applicator blade ismade of semi-flexible plastic. The head 12 would be formed in oneembodiment using injection molding. The elongated bar 10 would in oneembodiment be formed out of aluminum. The choice of aluminum isadvantageous because it allows the elongated bar 10 to flex which helpswith the task of sticking exposed foil duct tape onto a duct surface byflexing the elongated bar 10 inward so that the tape comes into contactwith the duct work.

Referring now to FIG. 1 and FIGS. 4-8 there is shown on the opposite endof the elongated bar 10 from the head 12 a handle 22 that serves a dualpurpose. It functions as handle for a user to grip the tool 8. It alsofunctions as a tape smoother in situations where two segments of ductwork are perpendicular to each other. The handle 22 either attaches atopthe elongated bar 10 or a sleeve 24 formed as part of the handle 22 canbe inserted over the end of the elongated bar 10. The handle 22 has abase 26 that is semi-pyramidal in shape having a top face 34, two sidefaces 36, a bottom face 38 and a rear face 40. At the junction where theside faces 36 meet the top face 34 are ridges 32. There also shown twoside applicator blades 30 and a central applicator blade 28. The twoside applicator blades 30 are used in conjunction with the centralapplicator blade 28 dependent upon which direction a perpendicularjunction of duct segments face. The side applicator blades 30 areadjacent to the central applicator blade 28 at a right angle orperpendicular. The side applicator blade 28 and central applicator blade30 conform to a perpendicular air duct joint and are purposed to slidealong a piece of newly installed foil duct tape 17 to smooth and flattenthe tape 17 on the ductwork junction. This is aided by the angledorientation of the central application blade 30 and the side elevationblades 28 that are generally in an obtuse angle with respect to thehandle 22 and promote a gradual angled edge against the foil tape toavoid ripping or puncturing the tape. The ridges 32 are angled withrespect to the seam it encounters by a generally 45 degree angle andhelp promote even and gentle smoothing of tape and adherence in aperpendicular joint.

Referring now to FIG. 11 there is shown orientation of tape 17 onto thetool 8 purposed for installation of tape 17 onto a perpendicularjunction. To install duct tape in a perpendicular junction of two ductsegments, a user would insert half the width of an end of a portion foilduct tape 17 into the slot 16 located between the elongated bar 10 andthe head's flexible plate 14 such that the adhesive side is orientedtowards the flexible plate 14 and placing half of the width of the tape17 on top of the elongated bar's 10 footprint. A user would then pressthe flexible plate 14 downwards so that it comes into contact with theadhesive side of the foil duct tape 17 such that the tape is temporarilyadhered to the flexible plate 14. The user would then bend the remaininghalf width of foil duct tape 17 in a position generally perpendicular tothat of the elongated bar as shown in FIG. 11 such that it is floatingwith respect to the portion of tape 17 occupying the are inside the slot16 and along the elongated bar 10. This allows half the tape 17 to beapplied with the tool 8 extended in to one air duct segment surface, andthe floating tape 17 will adhere to the other perpendicular air ductsegment. The tape 17 would then be flattened and smoothed using thehandle 22 as described above dependent on what orientation theperpendicular angle is presented to the user such that the user canchoose the proper side applicator blade 30 of the base 26 of the handle22.

Referring now to FIGS. 13 and 14 there is disclosed an alternateembodiment of the head 12 whereby there is a sleeve 13 formed on thebottom of the head 12 whereby the end of the elongated bar 10 can slideinto the sleeve 13 for attachment to the elongated bar 10. The sleevecan be formed of tolerances such that the elongated bar 10 wedges intothe sleeve 13 for a tight frictional fit or an adhesive can be placed inthe sleeve 13 or on the elongated bar 10 such that the elongated bar 10is permanently attached to the head 12.

The principles, embodiments, and modes of operation of the presentinvention have been set forth in the foregoing specification. Theembodiments disclosed herein should be interpreted as illustrating thepresent invention and not as restricting it. The foregoing disclosure isnot intended to limit the range of equivalent structure available to aperson of ordinary skill in the art in any way, but rather to expand therange of equivalent structures in ways not previously contemplated.Numerous variations and changes can be made to the foregoingillustrative embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit ofthe present invention.

ELEMENTS

-   8 tape applicator tool-   10 elongated bar-   12 head-   13 sleeve-   14 flexible plate-   16 slot-   17 tape-   18 applicator blade-   22 handle-   24 sleeve-   26 base-   28 central applicator blade-   30 side applicator blade-   32 ridge-   34 Top face-   36 Side face-   38 bottom face-   40 rear face

What I claim is:
 1. A tape applicator tool, comprising: an elongatedbar; a head located on one end of the elongated bar; said head furthercomprising a flexible plate extending rearward from the head; and saidhead further comprising a slot located between the flexible plate andthe top surface of the elongated bar for the insertion of a portion offoil duct tape such that the foil duct tape's adhesive surface is facingupwards and is attachable to a bottom surface of the flexible plate. 2.The tape applicator tool of claim 1 further comprising a handle locatedon the opposite end of the elongated bar from the head.
 3. The tapeapplicator tool of claim 2 where the handle has a base and whereby saidbase is semi-pyramidal in shape having a top face, two side faces, abottom face and a rear face.
 4. The tape applicator tool of claim 3wherein the handle base has a central applicator blade and two sideapplicator blades whereby said central applicator blade and the two sideapplicator blades are purposed for applying pressure to foil duct tapethat has been installed on to a ductwork seam where two portions ofductwork meet at a right angle.
 5. The tape applicator tool of claim 4wherein the handle further comprises ridges at the junction of the topface and the two side faces whereby there is an obtuse angle betweensaid ridges and the elongated bar.
 6. The tape applicator tool of claim1 wherein the head has an applicator blade angled upward and extendingaway from the head such that the applicator blade can be used to pressfoil duct tape firmly onto an air duct surface by sliding the applicatorblade along the length of said portion of foil duct tape.
 7. The tapeapplicator tool of claim 1 wherein the elongated bar is flexible alongits length and can bend.
 8. The tape applicator tool of claim 1 furthercomprising a handle attached to said elongated bar on an end of theelongated bar opposite from said head.
 9. A method of sealing two piecesof duct work adjacent to one another using foil duct tape, comprisingthe steps of: providing a tape applicator tool that is comprised of anelongated bar, a head located on one end of the elongated bar, said headfurther comprising a flexible plate extending rearward from the head,and said head further comprising a slot located between the flexibleplate and the top surface of the elongated bar for the insertion of aportion of foil duct tape such that the foil duct tape's adhesivesurface is facing upwards and is attachable to a bottom surface of theflexible plate; unrolling a desired length of foil duct tape suitable toseal the seam of two adjoining pieces of ductwork; inserting one end aportion of said foil duct tape into the slot located between theelongated bar and the head's flexible plate such that the adhesive sideis oriented towards to the flexible plate and placing the tape along theelongated bar and in the elongated bar's footprint; pressing theflexible plate downwards so that the flexible plate comes into contactwith the adhesive side of the foil duct tape such that the tape istemporarily adhered to the flexible plate; extending the tape applicatortool such that the head is in the vicinity of the end of a seam of twoadjoining pieces of ductwork and pressing the exposed adhesive surfaceof the foil duct tape near the head onto the ductwork seam from one endto the other; and engaging an applicator blade located on the end of thehead against the applied foil duct tape and along the entire length ofthe section of foil duct tape such that the foil duct tape is uniformlyadhered on the seam of said ductwork segments.
 10. A method for sealingtwo pieces of duct work that are perpendicular to each other using foilduct tape, comprising the steps of: providing a tape applicator toolthat is comprised of an elongated bar, a head located on one endelongated bar, said head further comprising a flexible plate extendingrearward from the head, and said head further comprising a slot locatedbetween the flexible plate and the top surface of the elongated bar forthe insertion of a portion of foil duct tape such that the foil ducttape's adhesive surface is facing upwards and is attachable to a bottomsurface of the flexible plate; unrolling a desired length of foil ducttape suitable to seal the seam of two adjoining segments of ductworkperpendicular to each other; inserting half the width of an end of aportion of said foil duct tape into the slot located between theelongated bar and the head's flexible plate such that the adhesive sideis oriented towards the flexible plate and placing half of the width ofthe tape in the elongated bar's footprint; pressing the flexible platedownwards so that the flexible plate comes into contact with theadhesive side of the foil duct tape such that the tape is temporarilyadhered to the flexible plate; bending the remaining half width of foilduct tape in a position generally perpendicular to that of the elongatedbar; and extending the tape applicator tool such that the head is in thevicinity of the end of a seam of two adjoining pieces of ductwork andpressing the exposed adhesive surface of the foil duct tape near thehead onto the ductwork seam from one end to the other whereby half ofthe width of tape is applied to one segment of ductwork and theremaining half width of tape is applied to the perpendicularly adjoiningsegment of ductwork.
 11. The method of claim 10 further comprising thestep of providing a handle to said tape applicator tool located on theopposite end of the elongated bar from the head and whereby the handlehas a base and whereby said base is semi-pyramidal in shape having a topface, two side faces, a bottom face and a rear face and wherein thehandle base has a central applicator blade and two side applicatorblades whereby said central applicator blade and the two side applicatorblades are purposed for applying pressure to foil duct tape that hasbeen installed on to a ductwork seam where two portions of ductwork areperpendicular to each other.
 12. The method of claim 11 furthercomprising the step of choosing the appropriate side applicator bladealong with the central applicator blade and engaging the side applicatorblade and central applicator blade with the applied foil tape andslidably engaging the tape at the perpendicular junction of the joinedsegments of ductwork with the side applicator blade and centralapplicator blade along the entire length of the section of foil ducttape such that the tape is uniformly adhered on the seam of saidductwork segments.